Find Healing through Seeking God

Whitney Hopler

Each of us living in this fallen world suffers somehow. Whether you're struggling physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually right now, God cares and is able to heal you.

But the ways in which God chooses to intervene in each person's life are as different as people themselves. So rather than focusing on a particular type of healing you hope for, focus on the One who can heal you - God - and invite Him to lead you on the journey of healing He has planned for you.

Here are some ways you can cooperate with God to pursue healing in your life:

• Talk honestly to God about your thoughts and feelings when you're hurting. Have confidence that He understands; remember all He suffered when He came to earth.
• Trust in God's sovereign wisdom about how best to deal with your afflictions. Invite Him to intervene in whatever ways He chooses rather than demanding a certain type of action. But feel free to request specific healing.
• Ask God which treatment options He would like you to pursue (such as prayer, medication, surgery, physical therapy, or better nutrition), and gather as much information as you can on them. Research, ask doctors and counselors questions, then pray for discernment to choose wisely.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to what God wants you to learn from your current suffering, remembering that God never causes suffering but that He sometimes allows it to accomplish a purpose. For example, your suffering could help you become more compassionate.
• Acknowledge and confess any sin in your life that is blocking your relationship with God. Once God forgives you, forgive yourself, and don't allow others to shame you. Commit to making better choices in the future, rely on God's grace to do so, and embrace the healing God offers you.
• Serve others whenever and however you can to take your focus off your own problems.
• Remember ways that God has blessed you in the past, read God's promises of love in the Bible, and ask Him to help you be aware of His presence with you. Thank God for the ways He has revealed His love for you.
• Pray regularly for healing, expecting God to act in your life - even if it's not in ways you had anticipated. Be patient, and don't give up if you get discouraged. Ask God to give you His perspective on what's going on in your life. Have confidence that He will bring you the healing He wants you to have in the fullness of His timing.
• Don't let other people's discouraging words, negative statistics, worry, or nostalgia for a time when life seemed easier distract you from experiencing all God has for you to experience today. Live as normally as you can in the midst of your affliction, and make plans for your future on a regular basis. Continually hope for more healing, realizing that it's possible as long as you're alive. Reject the label of "victim" and decide to embrace life fully.
• Accept help from others who offer it. Rather than isolating yourself, receive support from friends and family who care.
• Seek God's guidance for one step at a time only rather than for the entire healing process, so you don't become overwhelmed.
• Think and pray about pursuing some of the various avenues of healing God might use in your life: the laying on of hands in prayer, anointing with oil, deliverance from an evil spiritual attack, Communion, calling on the authority of Jesus' name, applying Scripture, medical technology, miracles, laughter, and natural foods and herbs.
  

Adapted from An Invitation to Healing: Let God Touch Your Mind, Body and Spirit, copyright 2001 by Lynda D. Elliott. Published by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., www.bakerbooks.com, 1-800-877-2665.

Lynda Elliott is a licensed social worker who offers counseling to individuals and families.

What do you need healing for right now? How has God healed you in the past? When you've prayed for healing, has God answered in any unexpected ways? If so, what were they? What encouragement can you offer others who are in pain right now? Visit the Books Forum to discuss this topic. Just click on the link below.